Tens of thousands of Ultra Orthodox Jews attend Siyum HaShas, a celebration marking completion of a seven-and-a-half year study-cycle of the entire Babylonian Talmud. Each of the 2711 pages of the Talmud is studied in sequence, one day at a time.

A boy looks on as tens of thousands of Ultra Orthodox Jews attend Siyum HaShas, a celebration marking completion of a seven-and-a-half year daily study-cycle of the entire Babylonian Talmud at Teddy Stadium on July 30, 2012 in Jerusalem, Israel. Each of the 2711 pages of the Talmud is studied in sequence, one day at a time.

Tens of thousands of Ultra Orthodox Jews attend Siyum HaShas, a celebration marking completion of a seven-and-a-half year study-cycle of the entire Babylonian Talmud. Each of the 2711 pages of the Talmud is studied in sequence, one day at a time.

You know what I see in these photos? Tens of thousands of MEN! Just like photos of tens of thousands of MEN in demonstrations in the Middle East. And you know what? It's frightening. And infuriating that the very most obvious thing about these photos -- that they're all men -- is never mentioned. I guess you have to be a woman to see the obvious.

The headline should be "Jews Celebrate Learning". There were no "rites" at the various Siyum ceremonies held all over the world to honor those who committed to learning a folio page a day for 2,711 days, and the ceremonies were attended by Jews across the spectrum. I am Conservative and I was there, and I was with a friend who identifies as Reform. This was an event for all Jews who value Jewish learning and the continuation of Jewish culture (the basis of which is the Torah and the Talmud).

Just when you thought TIME Magazine could get any more ignorant and hateful towards Jews, along comes another brainless article.

"TALMUDIC RITES" Just what the hell is that supposed to mean? Kari Collins comes across as a brainless twit seeking to expose some secret Jewish cabal when the best equivelent would be a graduation ceremony or a self-congratulatory party for completing a rigorous course of study.

She piles that on with her soap equivelent of "ULTRA-ORTHODOX" Jews as if we should be placed next to a pile of Charmin on the shelf of the local grocery store. Look Kari, the Jews in the photos are accurately described as either Chassidic or Haredi Jews. Either show the minimum amount of understanding of your subjects of find something else to shoot.

Of course what Ms. Collins also seems to miss is the fact that it's not just Chassidic Jews who take part in this course of study, but that the daf-yomi program is open to all Jews. But hey that might just be too normal for her to show in her photo spread.

"From Moses to Jeremiah and Isaiah, the Prophets taught...that the Jewish claim on the land of Israel was totally contingent on the moral and spiritual life of the Jews who lived there, and that the land would, as the Torah tells us, 'vomit you out' if people did not live according to the highest moral vision of Torah. Over and over again, the Torah repeated its most frequently stated mitzvah [command]:

"When you enter your land, do not oppress the stranger; the other, the one who is an outsider of your society, the powerless one and then not only 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself' but also 'you shall love the other.'" [Rabbi Lerner, TIKKUN Magazine, page 35, Sept./Oct. 2007 ]

"What does God require? He has told you o'man! Be just, be merciful, and walk humbly with your Lord." -Micah 6:8

This argument is ridiculous. I fail to see what one has to do with the other in any way, shape or form, especially as this system was established about 2,000 years AFTER the destruction of the second Temple (this is only the beginning of the 13th 7 1/2 year cycle). Does the concept of Shabbat mean that when you are readng a book you must stop every seventh chapter? Must you stop eating by every seventh potato chip?

Your second comment says a lot more than your first about your attitude towards religious Jews, mockery rather than religious posturing and blame.

@Jacob Blues The talmud is a very racist book and I wished you move out of my country! MOst dual citizen people hate the country in which they are living off of and have there allegiance to Israel. It is your type that causes most antisemitism. BY THE WAY I DONT LIKE THE EVIL RANTS IN THE TALMUD ABOUT GOYIM AND JESUS

Jacob- you say you are a real "American." You're not though. You know why? Because though you pay taxes and your relatives have served in the armed forces you have something in common with other Americans such as Richard Pearl, Paul Wolfowitz and others. You put Israel before the U.S. You will remain loyal to the U.S. so long as it is aligned with Israel.

Let me put it this way:

Do you think Jonathan Pollard should be freed? A simple yes or no. And if you say no he shouldn't be freed, I'd ask you do the right thing and put a post up on your website entitled: "Why I think Jonathan Pollard should not be freed."

I've visited your website. Very interesting. So, lets be honest here. Who comes first in terms of loyalty? Israel or the U.S.?

I know, I know I hate all Jews blah blah blah. I actually don't. But I don't expect your brainwashed, fear addled mind to comprehend that I am against Zionism, not Jews. And, the two are not synonymous however hard you may try to imagine that into reality.

"From Moses to Jeremiah and Isaiah, the Prophets taught...that the Jewish claim on the land of Israel was totally contingent on the moral and spiritual life of the Jews who lived there, and that the land would, as the Torah tells us, 'vomit you out' if people did not live according to the highest moral vision of Torah. Over and over again, the Torah repeated its most frequently stated mitzvah [command]:

"When you enter your land, do not oppress the stranger; the other, the one who is an outsider of your society, the powerless one and then not only 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself' but also 'you shall love the other.'" [Rabbi Lerner, TIKKUN Magazine, page 35, Sept./Oct. 2007 ]

"What does God require? He has told you o'man! Be just, be merciful, and walk humbly with your Lord." -Micah 6:8

Okay Jacob. Let's give credit where its due. Yes, I can't add. My math is terrible. Yes, i misspelled the names of some 'national' leaders.

Can we get past that and to the more substantive part of the argument?

The Canaanites you claim existed only 4000 years ago and don't exist anymore. That's ridiculous. Whose descendants do you think live on that land??? The fact is that Jews came AFTER them and they left while they were still there. The Arabs came later and mixed in with the population as did the Europeans and others. The point is that Palestine has a 4000 year old history, of which only 400 years (tenuous at best) are Jewish dominated.

Let me rephrase the question: what is the Jewish claim to Palestine that gives Jews the right to expel, kill and subjugate Palestinians? Can you explain that to me?

Again, referring to your response above. You have a sigh. Really? That is your response to my contention that Jews are not indigenous to Canaan as the Canaanites were? A sigh? That's weak. As for Theodore Herschel your best response is "dude do you even bother to read? " You're going to have to try way better than that. Oh, and while we're at it can you tell me why Einstein turned down the Presidency of the newly formed Israeli state in 1947 or '48? hmmm? Of course you can't. You're going to cry "antisemitism," throw out a few more pejoratives and leave.

I knew as soon as I posted that you would say that. Yes, that's two words. You get the award for Mr. Pointing out the Obvious. I find this very interesting. People like you start throwing out insults and pejoratives when you run out of seemingly logical rationalizations for your skewed perspective. So, you're answer to my two word answer was a) that is two words not one and b) its garbage.

Again, pointing out the obvious. You will notice I have the word "Israeli" in quotation marks. The point is that you are an "Israeli" Jew before you are an American Jew because people like you would throw the common American to the wolves just to save your sorry behind. Why should Americans die because your Zionist project is failing? What was it that one Israeli military commander said recently (I think it was the person responsible for Tel Aviv and enjoining areas) that in the next war with Hizbollah, no one in Tel Aviv would be safe. So, I say it again: the Zionist project has failed in its main objective: to make Jews "safe," though mind you that was never its real goal to begin with. Just ask the prominent Jewish Dutch secretary to the Chief Rabbi of Palestine who was assassinated by Zionists or having the temerity to suggest true reconciliation with Palestinians.

this is the source of your problem. you think because the rabbis have been teaching something for 3,000 years it must be correct. therefore, until 1492 the earth was flat, right?

christians have time honored traditions and beliefs which will soon be 2,000 years old. does that make Jesus the messiah?

finally, reading the torah on the sabbath and listening to a speech from the rabbi on the sabbath are not the same thing. Again, I am not against the right of the rabbis to express their opinion. Starting on Yom Kippur, I myself shall be submitting Torah commentaries to the new on line newspaper "Times of Israel" , but I am against reading Torah commentaries as part of a religious service on the sabbath. I know this is along standing tradition, but I don't agree with it.

I think that rabbis like shlomo Risken of the Jeruslaem Post", who say "the rabbis are co creators with God", or: "the rabbis are God's partners" are commiting blasphemy....

no where is it written in the torah that people must wear black hats and coats, but, the rabbis make their students dress that way....that's adding to the law and that's strictly forbidden....

what you do is play fast and loose with the law and make up reasons all day long why you don't have to follow the law, like your stupid potato chip example.

Right, that's what I thought Ericvic. Very convenient. Continue to call me Jew hater even though I have clearly said I have nothing against Jews and love and admire many. You avoid the word "Zionist" like its the plague. That is so weird. Isn't Zionism what your so called Jewish state was founded on? But, don't worry your little head. I'm "crazy" and "hateful" and if that allows your brainwashed mind to avoid painful reality, then keep on living a delusion.

The canard that Jews are not loyal to their country has been peddled by antisemites since the Dreyfuss affair.

Let me get this straight: if we go to war against Germany, all German Americans will align with Germany? if we go to war against Japan, all Japanese Americans will align with Japan? if we go to war against Iran, all Iranian Americans will align with Iran?First, I'd like to know what heritage you have, just to make sure to put you on the list.Second, who can we rely on in this country? Native Americans?Oh, no, I got it! it's only the Jews, of course!

First of all Jacob, Jews are not indigenous to Palestine. You've been brainwashed by Zionist propaganda. When Jews first migrated there in 1800 B.C. the land of Canaan was occupied by Canaanites. Second the extended territories of David and Solomon upon which Zionists base their claims (the present day Jews are not even of those original tribes but that's a whole diff story), were present for only 73 years. Even if we are generous and include the whole history from 1100 B.C. to around 559 AD when Jews were expelled by the Romans, that is about 400 years total. So, Jewish claim to the ancient land of Canaanite that has over a 4000 year history is about 400 years!

Second, the Jews are not "defending" themselves. They struck a bargain with the British to deprive Palestinians of their ancestral land based on Ottoman land ownership laws. They convinced the British that they were better positioned to protect British interests.

Third, the Zionist leader Theodore Herschel was an atheist and hated religious Jews. He was a nationalist and had nothing to do with Judaism.

There' s a lot more I could say on this topic, but I'll let your Zionist brain washed mind cope with this.

The biggest victims of Zionist ideology are Jews, much like a lot of Muslims are victims of Taliban ideology.

oh, and one more thing. Yes, it is slow motion genocide. I refer you to this website:

Article 2 of the UN Genocide Convention (see: http://www.edwebproject.org/si... ) states:“In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such: a) Killing members of the group; b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group”.Using the latest available UN Agency data we can systematically analyze these UN Genocide Convention points thus.“Intent to destroy in whole or in part" - sustained (and frequently asserted) intent over about 150 years of the Zionist colonial project; 0.75 million Palestinian refugees in 1948; currently 7 million Palestinian refugees, and 4.2 million Palestinian refugees registered with the UN in the Middle East; over 40 years of illegal Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza; 0.1 million 1948-2011 violent Palestinian deaths, post-1967 excess deaths 0.3 million; post-1967 under-5 infant deaths 0.2 million; 3,600 under-5 year old Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) infants die avoidably EACH YEAR in the OPT "Prison" due to Apartheid Israeli war crimes.a) Killing - about 5100,000 Palestinians killed since 1948; post-1967 excess deaths 0.3 million; post-1967 under-5 infant deaths 0.2 million; 3,600 under-5 year old Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) infants die avoidably EACH YEAR in the OPT "Prison" due to Israeli ignoring of the Geneva Convention; 254 OPT Palestinians killed by the Israeli military in the LAST 2 MONTHS OF 2008 ALONE, 301 killed thus last year (latest UNRWA data; see above).b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm - see (a) and the shocking UNICEF reports of the appalling conditions psychologically scarring OPT children:http://www.unicef.org/infobyco... .(c) Conditions to cause destruction in whole or in part - see (a) and (b); Professor Noam Chomsky describes the OPT as a highly abusive "Prison"; others use the valid term "Concentration Camp" and make parallels with the Warsaw Ghetto; one has to turn to US-guarded Vietnamese hamlets and the Nazi era atrocities to see routine, horrendously violent and deadly military policing of civilian concentration camps.(d) Measures intended to prevent births - see (a), (b), and (c) above; dozens of pregnant women dying at road blocks; other killing of pregnant Palestinian women; huge infant mortality in the OPT with the Occupier in gross violation of the Geneva Convention.(e) Forcible transferring of children – irreversible transferring by killing of children - 0.2 million post-invasion infant deaths; 27 OPT children violently killed in the LAST WEEK ALONE; mass imprisonment of 2 million OPT children; hundreds of Palestinian children in abusive Israeli high-security prisons in Israel; forcible separation of families by racist Israeli Apartheid Laws, marriage laws and immigration laws.For all anti-racist humanitarians - and anti-racist Jews in particular - the core moral messages from the WW2 Jewish Holocaust (5-6 million dead, 1 in 6 dying from deprivation) and from the more general WW2 European Holocaust (30 million Slav, Jewish and Gypsy dead) are “zero tolerance for racism”, “never again to anyone”, “bear witness” and “zero tolerance for lying”.However these sacred injunctions are grossly violated by the anti-Arab anti-Semitic racist Zionists running Apartheid Israel and their Western backers variously involved in the ongoing Palestinian Genocide, Iraqi Genocide and Afghan Genocide (post-invasion violent and non-violent excess deaths 0.3 million, 2.3 million and 3-7 million, respectively; post-invasion under-5 infant deaths 0.2 million, 0.6 million and 2.3 million, respectively; refugees totalling 7 million, 5-6 million and 3-4 million, respectively, plus a further 2.5 million NW Pakistan Pashtun refugees) (for details and documentation see "Muslim Holocaust, Muslim Genocide": ).

does the Torah sanction the occupation, expulsion and slow motion genocide of an indigenous population? does the Torah sanction that? Israel is really in a lot of trouble. Just as Syed Hasan Nasrallah.

Canaanites? Last time someone saw a Canaanite was 4,000 years ago. You might as well claim that the Lebanese (which ever ethnic group you can get to back you) to give the country back to the Phoenicians or Iraq back to the Babylonians. Sumer anyone? I mean really, if you're going to go that route, you would at least have a better shot with Australia and the Aborigines. But claiming that Jews aren't "native" to Israel because of the Canaanites is just blowing some hate-filled smoke. It's a BS argument.

Yes do you even bother to read. The man's last name was Hertzl, dumbass.

Einstein? That's you next latest and greatest.

Look, if you have anything in your head other than Jew-hatred now's the time to drag it forth because you keep on sinking deeper and deeper into the sewer with your claims.

Here's me putting moron right in the sentence rather than using quotation marks to highlight both your racism as well as stupidity. Just to highlight your ignorance and bigotry. I vote I pay taxes, I am a home owner. I am a real American just as much - if not more - than you.

Americans should die? Let's see, I do a fast count and come up with five family members who have served in wartime so spare me the 'common American" claim that they are being thrown to the wolves by the Jews.

Of course, continuing your failure at history, you fail to miss the fact that during the course of its existence, Israel has fought all of its wars without American troops serving in combat.

Making Jews 'safe'? Well that's a nice thought and hope. But that reality means adjusting the minds of the next-door neighbors and other hate-mongers who wish to see Jews dead.

What Israel does provide is a means of self-defense against anti-Semitism. People may still come to kill the Jews - but now, they will learn that we fight back.

I was always under the impression that one of the longest, time-honored customs on Shabbat was to spend free time studying Torah, as opposed to other pastimes.

You are inventing pseudo-halacha to prove a point which, if it really is able to hold water, should not need artificial bolsters. If it is really valid, you should not need to make things up.

The Torah is really quite specific about which practices "take a break" at the end of the week. The obligation to keep kashrut doesn't end on Shabbat, nor does the prohibition against chametz "take a break" on the seventh day, etc.

Cute theory, but it won't do you any favors.

In halacha, the law straight from the Torah scrolls, the Torah shebiktav, and the Rabbinic law, or the Torah she'baal peh, are equal, and all come from God. If a person has a choice between being forced to break a Mosaic law on Shabbat or a Rabbinic law, it doesn't matter which they select, as they are considered on the same level. The Rabbinic law, particularly from the time of the Mishnah and Gemarah, is just as much an integral part of the fabric of Judaism as the law which is written in the scrolls (which we read on Shabbat, the seventh day, if you'll remember).

I'm not going to address the Pollard affair because it's quite irrelevant to the point I'm making, and which you haven't refuted, which is that you're an antisemite. I'm not accusing you, I've stated the obvious and demonstrated it.

As far as I'm concerned, my point is made and I'll let you stew in your hatred. I just hope you won't take it out on a defenseless group of people like the last maniac in Temple.

Yes, the same method. Accuse the other person of anti this, anti that and tell them they are stupid and not being factual. Would you like to me to provide links to each and every "accusation" above from Israeli sources. Obviously, you did not bother reading my post. I didn't say that a Jew spying on the U.S. for Israel condemns all Jews to suspicion: I am saying that Zionists should at least have the decency to not brazenly ask for his release and react with righteous indignation when their "requests" are rejected. They should not pressure Congress into acting on the matter with the implicit threat of AIPAC pouring millions of dollars into their opponent's campaign coffers if they dare to disobey. Again, I can provide many, many verified sources for all the above. Do you see Germans, Russians, or any other nation behaving like the Zionists described above?

So let me get this straight: that a Jew was found spying for Israel condemns all the Jews in America to the suspicion of being disloyal, but not any other nationalities: not Russians, not Chinese, not Koreans, not French, English, Germans, British or any other nationality... Of course we all know that no Chinese American was ever caught spying for China. Oh, wait, actually there was one, or two...

That's your logic? well, Sir, you grade if "F" - go back to school.

I won't really address the rest of your comment, since it's based on innuendos, your own delusional assertions, fabrications and lies. All mixed up in some pathetic mishmash of words and sentences with no rhyme or reason, boy are you also a lousy writer! What, have you simply not finished 5th grade?

I would just say this: the only people you could ever convince are antisemites like yourself. Anyone else would be seriously worried that you'll apply the same standard you do to Jews to their ancestor's nationality.

But of course we both know you won't, because really it's only the Jews that you hate. Or do you hate other groups?

That's a valid point. But, it misses out on the history of Israeli-American relations. No German has ever been caught spying on the U.S. with such devastating affect only to have the German not only not apologize but demand his return. Germany (Post World War II and Post Reunification) has ever so brazenly attacked a U.S. warship (U.S.S.Liberty). Germans who plotted to assassinate Americans in Egypt only to be caught red handed have not been given medals by a current German President. And finally, (I could go on and on) no German President has ever claimed that Germans control America and can make it do whatever they want. The list goes on and on. Israel is not an "ally" to the U.S. Israel is a country that dictates its policy to the U.S. based on the strength of U.S. Zionists who do not give a damn about the U.S. but put Israel first. Adelson's single handed support of Newt Gingrich is just one obvious example.

This hatred against non-Zionists extends to Jews. I know of a Rabbi who tells me tales of his followers being brutally beaten in Israel because they oppose Zionism and him being banned from visiting the Zionist state. I know of Jews who are hounded, villified and threatened for not conforming to the Zionist project. Thankfully, more Jews are waking up to the falsity of Zionist ideology every day. I love the Jewish people. I think they are some of the most hardworking, honest, caring, creative people. That's what makes Zionism such a tragedy. Its number one victims are Jews.

First of all Jacob, Jews are not indigenous to Palestine. You've been brainwashed by Zionist propaganda. When Jews first migrated there in 1800 B.C. the land of Canaan was occupied by Canaanites. Second the extended territories of David and Solomon upon which Zionists base their claims (the present day Jews are not even of those original tribes but that's a whole diff story), were present for only 73 years. Even if we are generous and include the whole history from 1100 B.C. to around 559 AD when Jews were expelled by the Romans, that is about 400 years total. So, Jewish claim to the ancient land of Canaanite that has over a 4000 year history is about 400 years!

Second, the Jews are not "defending" themselves. They struck a bargain with the British to deprive Palestinians of their ancestral land based on Ottoman land ownership laws. They convinced the British that they were better positioned to protect British interests.

Third, the Zionist leader Theodore Herschel was an atheist and hated religious Jews. He was a nationalist and had nothing to do with Judaism.

There' s a lot more I could say on this topic, but I'll let your Zionist brain washed mind cope with this.

The biggest victims of Zionist ideology are Jews, much like a lot of Muslims are victims of Taliban ideology.

As for Syed Hasan Nasrallah. Don't make me laugh. I only have on word for you: Winograd Commission.

Slow-motion genocide? What Jews move at half-speed here? Please, if you're going to jump off the deep-end here in terms of accusations at least come up with believeable ones. The Jews have not committed genocide at all, not in slow-motion or real time. Try coming up with a better lie.

But if you're going to argue whether the Torah sanctions Jews living in Israel? It does. Wow, who would have thunk it. Jews living in Israel. How dare they.

And that they dare defend themselves when attacked? The nerve! the outrage!! What Chutzpah!!! And when those that sought to destroy the Jews were defeated how dare those Jews not simply hand over the land. Land for Peace? Outrageous!! Extortion!

Of course the reality is that 1.0 million Arabs live in Israel as full citizens. Contrast that with the Arab world which ethnically cleansed Jews from the population of not one, but 21 individual states.

As for Syed Hassan Nassrallah, he's still running around in Hizballah's version of a habitrail system for the past six years, hiding from Israel (or maybe the Lebanese who even if they may have accepted his apology for plunging them into Hizballah's war in 2006, may not be so forgiving of his support for Bashar Assad, who in 18 months managed to rack up a body count five-times that of the one the Palestinians faced in 10 years of fighting Israel.

the Jews. Arabs are invaders from Arabia. Genocide of Arabs (and 300,000 black Christians at

the hands of Arab militias in Darfur) in the Muslim Arab bloody dictatorsips and medieval kingdoms, killed by other Arabs, of course. They even kill their own daughters and sisters for "honour", those savages.

@Jacob Blues STOP THE BLANK CHECK TO ISRAEL. The parasite is killing her host. NO tax money for Israel to ethnic cleans women and children. Jacob are you a AIPAC supporter? We goys are starting to learn the truth about your talmud.